Moose Jaw Soccer Asks For Rate Cut Through Restrictions

For most soccer players and associations they like to hear Andres Cantor scream “Goooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllll” but on Monday evening during what could be likened to a free kick to have their rates temporarily reduced because of the COVID - 19 restrictions Council put a wall built on fairness and unanimously denied the request.

“Currently our rates per hour per player have tripled,” Mike Armstrong, president of the Moose Jaw Soccer Association (MJSA) told Council. “At this time it is unsustainable.”

Armstrong appeared before Council asking them for a temporary cut the rate from $84.65/hour for one quarter section of turf to be the rate for three-quarters of the facility. The MJSA hourly rate for a quarter section would be reduced to $28.22 when using three sections simultaneously or $42.33 if using two sections.

At present MJSA rate is 17 percent less than the regular minor rate of $102.00. The discounted prime tenant rate is provided to MJSA based on a commitment of 625 rental hours annually. MJSA will not be able to meet their usage amounts in 2020-2021.

MJSA is not seeking a permanent rate cut through the pandemic but only until the restrictions are reduced to a level where the rate is economically viable given the number of players allowed on the field.

In his presentation Armstrong said that soccer was more than just a sport but also served the community in other areas by lessening the social impact of newcomer children integrating into the community.

Reading from a letter from a letter of support from the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council he said soccer was important to many children of Newcomers and it gave them “a sense of belonging in the community.” Their participation in soccer was invaluable to being part of Moose Jaw but something they could not all afford due to financial considerations.

On a wider note Armstrong said by reducing the rates to a more affordable level the City was helping all participants during the pandemic by getting them “away from video games and back to sports.”

Armstrong argued that despite an Administration report saying the rate reduction could potentially set a precedent that “unfortunately we live in unprecedented times.”

Despite the presentation Council still had major reservations about a temporary rate reduction because with the current COVID - 19 restrictions if the MJSA were to rent three-quarters of the field it would shut down use of the walking track during those times.

Mike Armstrong, president of the Moose Jaw Soccer Association addresses Council - MJ Independent photo

“If we support this reduction and it closes the door due to the numbers game to other citizens,” Councillor Jamie Logan said. “I am against it at this time.”

Councillor Doug Blanc said he agreed with Councillor Logan’s position and stated “we need to deal with other groups and not just soccer” pointing to 246 people who had booked track time that reducing the rate charged to MJSA would now potentially exclude.

“If we allow the soccer association to have the Yara Centre exclusively we are going to exclude 246 people who are in there,” he said.

Councillor Dawn Luhning pointed towards the fact there were costs to run the facility and subsidizing only the MJSA was a no go.

“We cannot provide a subsidy to one group and not provide it to everybody,” Councillor Luhning said.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said it was a hard decision but he questioned if the MLAs should not be made aware of MJSA’s concerns as the Province is in charge of the restrictions and not the City.

“Should we not be talking to the Province and the MLAs about restrictions….I am just not sure we have looked at all of the avenues first.”

In a media scrum following Council Mayor Tolmie said that since the pandemic’s beginning “we have obviously changed the way we operate the Yara Centre. We have only been approached by one group.”

The Mayor said he would be following up with the two local MLAs about the situation.

“There is a difference here. Soccer is usually considered an outdoor sport and the uniqueness of our city is we have indoor facilities so we are going to speaking to our MLAs and say is there something else we could be looking at, when we do have other provincial sports groups getting funding and permission to operate,” he said.

Asked by MJ Independent for his feelings about the impact COVID - 19 restrictions were having on all minor sports Mayor Tolmie said they were challenges the City was dealing with but “these are restrictions given down to us. But in our conversations with the Province were are obviously advocating for users to get out. We have to find creative ways to keep people active.”

Recently a petition with thousands of signatures was sent to Premier Scott Moe asking for the restrictions to be reduced for all minor sports - not just hockey.

In a unanimous vote Council voted to receive and file the request from the MJSA meaning no more action will be taken on it.